Camping Suggestions

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A Tip20! Original Article, by Tom Mason

Servers make money by waiting on tables. This is no secret. A waitress or waiter’s section of tables are in a way like their own little sub-restaurant. They take ownership of their section and are responsible for all of the things that go on in it like cleanliness, guest satisfaction, sales, timing, etc. During their shift their goal is no different than the goal of the entire restaurant, which is to make sales and produce income. The income that a server makes is largely dependent on the tips that they earn when their guests pay their bill. Hence, the more tables they turn the more bills they produce and the more tips they will receive. If a server is not turning tables they are making less money. Period.

Take an example of a waiter in a restaurant that has a section of three tables and has been scheduled for a four-hour dinner shift. In a perfect world, a dinner would last about an hour per table. On a busy night this gives the server a chance to have 12 tables turn and therefore place 12 bills in which he will be tipped. Using the same example let’s say that one of the tables decides to stay for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. This reduces the server’s number of possible turns to 9 and then another table decides to stay for 2 hours. This reduces the turns to 8 and reduces the potential income by a full third. And that’s just if two tables decide to have a long dinner. Imagine if you went to work and through no fault of your own your income was cut by a third! The example does not even take into account how many empty seats there may be at your table such as two people at a table for six. In the service industry the practice of sitting at a table for an exceptionally long time is called “camping”. A table is considered camping when they simply sit and talk or read or play cards (yes this happens!) at a table long after their food has been consumed and they are no longer ordering. The length of time a meal takes does have many variables based on the type of restaurant and the type of food. For example a meal at a roadside truck stop is likely to be much quicker and less expensive than a meal at a fine dining establishment where you are likely to have a bottle of wine, appetizers and desert. So there is no set time period right for getting in and out of a restaurant. In the case of the truck stop server will turn many more tables and may have bigger sections because the dining experience is customized for speed and efficiency to get you back on the road. The servers make money because they are turning many tables even though the average individual bill is lower. In the fine dining example there are fewer table turns and the server sections are smaller because the meal itself is much more labor intensive, there are more courses and the pace may be slower in general. It is because of this pace that “camping” can really be an income killer for servers.

There’s a good possibility that you are camping if:

You have noticed that all of the tables around you have had more than one party go through their entire meal. You have stopped eating, your server has dropped off your bill and you have sat for an additional 15 minutes or longer. You have paid your bill and have sat for an additional 15 minutes or longer. You are on your third or more refill of soda/water/coffee after your bill has been dropped. You are among the last three tables in the restaurant that has closed its doors for the day. You are playing a board game or cards at your table. Your server is leaning against a wall trying not to glare at you.

You must remember that you are taking valuable real estate from the server. Because you are a valued guest of the restaurant your server must not push you to go. Even if you ask if you should go they will likely tell you that “you are welcome to stay as long as you like” or “no rush” When in fact they really need you to go. They have to just hope that you will be courteous enough to go when you are done.

How to avoid being a camper:

Be on time for reservations. The server’s table is being held for you. Servers cannot make money on an empty table. Do not get seated till your party is whole. Decide on what you want to eat or drink in a timely manner. Do not sit for half an hour before ordering or starting your meal. Do not invite people to join your table mid-meal. Finish your food and no need to hurry. Enjoy it. But when you are finished promptly pay your bill and move along. If you need quality “catching up” time with a friend or loved one, get a drink or coffee in the bar before or after the meal. The bar or lounge area of a restaurant is designed to handle people hanging out for longer periods of time. (Although turn times matter there too!) If the restaurant is closing or has closed be respectful that your server has a life outside of work too and may have a family or friends to go home to. Don’t sit there for a long time after closing. (One way to avoid this problem is not going into the restaurant 20 minutes before closing.) Pay your bill quickly, even if you intend to stay longer. Servers likely have paperwork to do and can get started on it if they have collected all of their bills. If you do stay much longer than your meal lasts be kind to the server in your tip. Remember that you have cost them a possible table turn.

You do not have to rush in and out of restaurants. The dining experience is meant to be relaxing and enjoyable. All servers ask is that you be respectful of their time and their business, which is turning tables to make an income. Most servers make a very meager hourly wage and rely on those table turns and tips to make money. Just as you like to get out of work at the end of your shift, waiters and waitresses do too.

For each camper, camping means different things. The difference in the comprehension of the activity implies a difference in the camping equipment for the campers. For example, there are some campers that pack their equipments in backpacks. This means that their gadgets are lesser than those that camp using an RV. When you camp with the use of a backpack, this involves trekking and hiking. Your camping equipments are secured on your back. If you have to walk long distances, it can lead to back problems. The same goes if you are carrying several things in your backpack.

In order to avoid back pains, there are some things that you have to consider. First, you have to make sure that your backpack is light. The backpack is an important camping equipment. You should buy one that is strong and will accommodate all of your camping gear. There are some cheaper hiking bags. However, you are not assured of the quality of these backpacks. There is a possibility that if you use a cheap bag, it might get destroyed while you are hiking. You can avoid this incident by opting for backpacks that are made out of high-quality materials.

Your backpack’s fit also counts a lot, especially to your health. Your hiking bag should provide you with comfort. It should fit well against your back, in order to avoid discomfort as you trek long distances. You would not want to make your experience a bad one. When you go camping, it should be fun. You would not be able to enjoy the scenery and the whole hike, if your camping equipment is bothering you. You will be able to find the best equipments if you purchase all of them in a one-stop shop. There are some stores that are found in local areas. On the other hand, there are some shops that sell camping equipments over the web.

If you are looking for camping equipment, travel, or backpacking gears, you can find all these in Ready to Leave. This is an online store that sells equipments for camping such as sleeping bags, tents, liners for sleeping bags, travel cots, and accessories for camping. This store is among the top online retailers of the United Kingdom, when it comes to equipments for backpacking, travel, and camping. The products of Ready to Leave range broadly. You can find the smallest camping tool, to the most important camping equipment.

Aside from essential camping equipments, you can also purchase traveling bags and luggage at Ready to Leave. These include baby carriers, rucksacks, luggage, laptop bags, and travel security. The survival gadgets of this online retailer include binoculars, army knives, navigation tools, and other survival equipments. There are also available tools for drinking and eating. Examples are cookware, mugs, water bottles, picnic sets, camping stoves, and other gears. There are even products for hygiene and health, such as mosquito nets, sun cream, repellent, travel towels, and first-aid kits. Other items are for leisure and relaxation like kayaks, electrical devices like travel kettles, travel comfort tools such as travel pillows, and footwear and clothing like jackets.

Tent, check! Flashlights with batteries, all working! Jugs, spoons, and plates, all here! Jacket, extra clothes, caps, all in the bag! Matches, utility knife, I almost forgot! Sleeping bag, ok! Hammock, why not? Camping chair, hmmm… My Coleman Camping Chair that I had for Christmas. Should I bring it with me? Naah, forget it! Too impractical! I have all I will ever need.

Sounds familiar? Before a camp trip, we hustle and bustle searching for the right camping equipments. We grab and go, while reminding ourselves of the last camping experience and what we brought along. Typically, our list comprises of the bear essentials, with a few luxury items we can never go without. And most of the time, the camping chair fails to be on that list even as a luxury item.

Most of us consider it best to just sit anywhere. People considers it as part of the camping experience to sit on rocks, logs and tree stumps, while the majority find it more practical to squat, avoiding the dirt. However, whenever we see someone able to sit with ease and comfort in one of the Coleman Camping chairs, we tend to be a little bit envious. And what happens when that person leave the chair? Oh yes, we, who sit on the dust look at each other from the sides, sensing the slightest movement, the slightest hint of intent. Then we walk ever so carefully yet hurriedly towards that small camping chair, and we sit like we have never sat before. I may have exaggerated a bit, but the point is that everyone enjoys the luxury of a camping chair however impractical it may seem at first.

And this scenario usually repeats itself, especially on long hikes. The fast walkers moving too quickly, later realizes that some of their companions are getting weary and wanted to take a rest. So they stop for a while and find a spot to relax. Some sit on big roots, others squat, while a few sit on their ever so reliable camp chairs. “What! Where did that come from?” is the typical response.

Some of other uses of camping chairs, like as an elevated platform for big water jugs is usually overlooked. We only realize the need when it arises. So why not just try to bring it with you the next time you go on a camping trip. You will not regret it.

Tent, check! Flashlights with batteries, all working! Jugs, spoons, and plates, all here! Jacket, extra clothes, caps, all in the bag! Matches, utility knife, I almost forgot! Sleeping bag, ok! Hammock, why not? Camping chair, hmmm… My Coleman Camping Chair that I had for Christmas. Should I bring it with me? Naah, forget it! Too impractical! I have all I will ever need.

And what happens when that person leave the chair? Oh yes, we, who sit on the dust look at each other from the sides, sensing the slightest movement, the slightest hint of intent. Then we walk ever so carefully yet hurriedly towards that small camping chair, and we sit like we have never sat before. I may have exaggerated a bit, but the point is that everyone enjoys the luxury of a camping chair however impractical it may seem at first.